Masterworks III: A Symphonic Celebration of America250
Schedule
Sun, 26 Apr, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Cowan Hall | Westerville, OH
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As Westerville and the nation count down to the 250th anniversary of America's founding, the Westerville Symphony rises to the occasion with a program that is equal parts celebration, reflection, and revelation. This is music that tells the American story: boldly, beautifully, and with a depth that only a live symphony orchestra can deliver. More than a concert, this is the Symphony's gift to its community and a night you will not forget.The evening opens with something truly historic. Jennifer Merkowitz, composer and Otterbein University faculty member, offers the world premiere of Til All Success Be Nobleness, a new work commissioned expressly for this milestone year and rooted in the very soil of Westerville's history. World premieres are rare. World premieres written for your community, about your community, and performed in your community are rarer still. This is one of those nights. Made possible through the generous partnership of the Westerville History Museum, the Westerville Historical Society, and the Johnstone Fund for New Music, this commission ensures that Westerville's voice is heard as America marks 250 years.
From there, the program turns to one of classical music's great originals: Charles Ives and his irresistible Variations on America. Ives takes a tune every American knows and spins it into something utterly unexpected: playful, irreverent, and shot through with the kind of creative freedom that defines the American spirit at its best. It is guaranteed to make you smile.
After intermission comes the crown jewel of the evening: George Gershwin's Catfish Row, the symphonic suite drawn from the groundbreaking opera Porgy and Bess. Few pieces capture the soul of America the way Gershwin's music does, weaving together jazz and classical, joy and longing, tradition and innovation into something unmistakably, gloriously American. From the haunting beauty of Summertime to the explosive rhythmic energy of the suite's dance episodes, Catfish Row is a reminder of just how extraordinary live orchestral music can be.
Together, these three works trace the arc of the American experience: its courage, its creativity, and its ever-evolving voice. Don't miss your chance to be part of this once-in-a-generation celebration.
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Where is it happening?
Cowan Hall, 30 S Grove St, Westerville, OH 43081-2051, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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